CONTENTS
08 JAMES TOSELANDA look at what went down this year in Long Beach, CA
12 SIDI VORTICE AIR BOOTS
AAB tests 4 new products
16 BIG DOG MASTIFF
The iconic 2010 model
18 STRATOLINER DELUXE
Yamaha’s new Star cruiser
24 MODS VS ROCKERS
Englands two predominant biker gangs
28 GOING BACK TO CALI
Cali Classic 125 scooter
6 ALLABOUTBIKES . SUMMER 2010 ALLABOUTBIKES.COM . VOL. 2, ISSUE 7 3The
BigDog
Mastiff
By Dan Evon
Big Dog Motorcycles does one thing and they do it well. They
put the coolest looking bikes out on the streets. With five
models, numerous awards, and a growing fan base, Big Dog
Motorcycles is becoming the standard of style in the motorcycle
world. And their 2010 Big Dog Mastiff is further proof that this
American Manufacturer is recreating an iconic American style.
The Big Dog Mastiff is long and
low, coming in at just over 8 and
a half feet, which for Big Dog
standards, isn’t too extreme. The
K9 and the Ridgeback both come
in at about 9 feet, with the Wolf
stretching to 9 feet four inches.
The Mastiff may not be the most
extreme in Big Dog’s lineup, but
it is sure to intimidate just about
any bike outside of the Big Dog
family.
The Mastiff is propelled by a
super fat 300 rear tire and a
117 c.i. engine. The engine is an
ALLaAbBsOoUluTBtIeKEbSeast th.at is fed by a
VOL. 2, ISSUE 7
carbureted fuel system, and could
create enough vibrations to buck
you off if you didn’t hold on tight.
But because of the smooth-riding
hidden shocks, the Mastiff rides
as smooth as it looks. Big Dog is a
master at disguising the necessary
comforts within its stylish de-
signs, and the curved dual down
tubes and hidden shocks are no
exception.
Taking a stock Mastiff to the
street would be enough for most
people, and it would impress even
more, but Big Dog has an endless
line of accessories for its 2010
Mastiff model. Big Dog
prides itself on being the
“world’s largest manufac-
turer of custom bikes,”
but any rider can add
some personal style with
chrome casings, exhaust
upgrades, forward con-
trols, or a sissy bar. The
Mastiff has been one of
Big Dog’s best sellers for
the past couple of years, and
for good reason. It is a perfect
balance between an extreme look
and a manageable style. The Mas-
117
tiff is as close as you can get to the
c.i. Engine
Chopper line, without jumping
over to the other/si6de-.Speed
BDM Balance bikes-scooter
Goin’ Back To
Cali
The Cali Classic doesn’t scream California at you,
instead, it gently whispers it in your ear. This cool,
sleek scooter is an obvious product of the west coast,
with its smooth and quite engine, unbelievable MPG
range, and unique blend of vintage and urban style.
The Cali Classic is perfect for beach hopping, or
cruising around those sunny California streets.
The design of the Cali Classic is very straightforward,
but elegant. The simple lines and high quality paint-
work give this scooter a lasting quality that won’t go
out of fashion in the years to come. But fashion isn’t
the only thing that will last on this scooter.
The Cali Classic 125 uses the latest Ceramic Coating
Cylinder technology which has improved the scooters
wear and heat resistance, making the Cali Classic
one of the more durable scooters on the market.
“Lance Powersports weren’t
content with playing it safe
throughout their design.”
Highlights
- Two-Person Seat
- 59 MPH Max Speed
- 1.18 Gallon Tank
- 105 Miles Per Gallon
- 125cc Air-cooled Engine
The California-based company is currently operated by
CEO, Gene Chang, who is very excited about the growth
of the company over the past 2 years. Chang hopes to
expand US distribution by producing a quality product that
is affordable fo.r today’s consumer.
30 ALLABOUTBIKES VOL. 2, ISSUE 7 World Superbike,
Miller Motorsports park, uT
For those lucky enough to attend the
Gatewa Party in Salt Lake City before
the World Superbike weekend, you’ll
have had an opportunity to hear
James Toseland sing and play the
piano. In between his busy schedule,
James stopped by the Yamaha Cham-
pions School to hang out and give
some riding tips. He also took some
time to sit down and answer a few
quick questions about the weekend
ahead, and his first season back in
World Superbike.
10 ALLABOUTBIKES . VOL. 2, ISSUE 7
on Miller MoTorSporTS park
It’s my first time to MMP, so it’ll be tough this weekend not knowing
the track, so I’ll be tagging onto some people to try and figure it out
quick. I got to take a few laps in a racing Mustang, so I’ve had a look
at it. It’s a very interesting track, and there’s really no track like it. It’s
breathtaking.
on Your Year So far
We have had some stuff go against us, but we should be in the top
three comfortably with the bike. We have had a few set backs. I broke
my hand iat Philip Island. We had our first podium at Valencia, then a
doube podium and in the first race at Monza we were close to Biaggi.
I am happy to be back on a team that can win.
on The YaMaha r1
I’m real happy with the bike, and my team. My good friend and chief
engineer Frankie Carcheddi is with me now. We were together at GSE
Ducati and when learned he was available recently I contacted Colin
Wright immediately. The bike is very good and I spend seven years on
a Superbike so it’s easier to come back.
on beinG injured
Riding with injuries is tough. Rossi’s shoulder has to be slowing him
down, and you can be riding as hard as you can and be second off,
which can put you down in tenth. My hand injury from Philip Island
has been difficult as it’s been hard to train and in South Africa I rode
injured after the crash a week earlier at Imola. Leon Camier’s swin-
garm pivot hit me in the neck between my leathers and my helmet
where there’s no protection, and I had a tough time with the tires.
on The coMpeTiTion ThiS Year
The lap times are one second faster this year, so all the teams have re-
ally stepped it up this year. There are a lot of people who can win.
on The difference beTWeen a
World Superbike & a MoTo Gp bike
Biggest difference in Moto GP is the
weight. The Moto GP chassis is so
stiff, and there is more room for error
on the Superbike. Carbon versus steel
brake rotors, things like that.
on elecTronicS
Electronics can hold you up if they are
not quite right. If the tire really starts
to spin the traction control can kill the
power too much, especially when the
tires are worn out. There is a switch to
turn it off, but it’s not easy to suddenly
switch to no traction control. You
have to concentrate as your strength
goes and the grip goes away. Tires can
be a problem too. In South Africa I
ran a 1.37.2 in Qualifying and then
was doing 41s in the race with tire
problems.
on fiTneSS
You need to be extremely fit, as it
takes more strength to ride the bike as
the tires start to lose their grip toward
the end of the race.
on favoriTe TrackS
Philip Island, Laguan Seca and Indy. I
love riding on American tracks, and I
go well at Magny Cours.
James
By Neale Bayly
Toseland LA CUSTOM
MOTORCYCLE SHOW
(PLUS CALANDER GIRLS- wink, wink)
By Tim Kessel
Ihave a great job. I spent Sunday, July the 18th at the LA Cus-
tom Motorcycle and Calendar Girl Show in Long Beach, CA. In a
beautiful grass venue next to the famous Queen Mary, three of the
world’s best things were in ample supply– custom bikes, beauti-
ful women and good music. Perfect Southern California weather
only added to the fun. Here is a look at what went down on the tiny
peninsula that fingers out into the Pacific.
For me, the best thing about the show was that it included a full
cornucopia of different types of motorcycles. Of course, there were
hundreds of custom cruisers in full regalia. However, there was also
a full array of classics in both modified form and original restora-
tions. Refreshingly, sport-bikes were a solid presence at the Long
Beach show. There was everything from classic sport-bikes to
amazingly modified late-model crotch rockets.
There were both famous and up-and-coming custom builders at
the Long Beach show. I was most interested in the work of Shinya
Kimura. Kimura is a Japanese born talent who builds organic,
minimalist custom bikes. He has a kind of “love it or hate it” style.
Obviously, Brad.Pitt loves it since he rides a Kimura custom.
ALLABOUTBIKES VOL. 2, ISSUE 7
i l
i i
,
Here s a ook at what
went down th s year n
Long Beach CA
There were several crowd participation displays at the show. One
vender offered a wheelie bike that could be tried for $20. The
male riders may have been more proficient on the technique of the
wheelie, but the girls drew a much bigger crowd.
A dyno tested bikes’ muscle throughout the day. In an impressive
display of raw power, the Suzuki Hayabusa shown below pumped
out a dyno run of 469 horsepower. The dyno runs were the only
thing that drowned out the good music that ran throughout the day
performed by girl bands like Emily Jaye and Frantik.
Okay, you’ve waited long enough. Beautiful and talented women
were in out in abundance at the Long Beach show. The Purrfect
Angelez performed throughout the day on the main stage (al-
though some of their routines were a little less than Angelic). Other
calendar models beautified the bikes throughout the property. I’ll
finish this piece with a nice montage of the images I captured at
the show. Enjoy! Theyear was 1964
and the animosity
between the Rockers and
the Mods, England’s two
predominant biker gangs,
was about to spill over.
In one corner were the
Rockers, a group of
leather-wearing tough
guys who favored motor-
cycles as heavy the guitar
riffs pounded out by their
favorite American rock
bands. In That’s
the other right,
were the no war
Mods, the stories
scooter- here.
riding Instead
sophis- of swing-
ticates. ing knife
To these fights
guys, and off-
clean-cut the-cuff
suits and insults,
skinny the only
ties that things
com- traded at
plimented their musical the event
choice of Rhythm and -- held in the city’s Southside Works -- were
Blues were the order of the comments of mutual admiration … and maybe
day. a few pats on the back.
groups had in common was this; they hated
each other.
More than four decades later, Mods and
Rockers – rarely seen since they were
denounced a nuisance by British media
in 1969 and faded from public view -- re-
surged in Pittsburgh. For one day only they
would strut their stuff, showing everyone
who really reined supreme over the motor-
cycle circuit.
And. Things. Got… Peaceful.
The only thin.g the two Even the music was a harmonious mix of punk
ALLABOUTBIKES VOL. 2, ISSUE 7
rock and rockabilly, acceptable to
the ears of both Mods and Rockers.
At the center of it all was Laura
Pliskin, a New York native – and
current resident of Pittsburgh -- who
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